Side by side
Luke 23
Our retelling next to the Bible text it comes from. Each row lines up one scene with the verses it retells.
Scene 3: Before PilateVerses 1 to 5
Then the whole council got up. They led Jesus to Pilate.
Pilate was the Roman governor. Rome ruled the land. Only Rome could put someone to death on a cross. Pilate later told Jesus that he had "authority to release You and authority to crucify You" (John 19:10).
Luke tells us that one council member did not agree with the others. His name was Joseph, from the town of Arimathea. Joseph "had not consented to their decision or action" (23:51).
The leaders began to accuse Jesus. They said, "We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King" (23:2). Subverting means turning people against the government. Caesar was the Roman emperor.
The tax charge was not true. A few days earlier, Jesus had said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's" (20:25).
Pilate asked Jesus, "Are You the King of the Jews?" (23:3).
Jesus replied, "You have said so" (23:3).
Pilate turned to the chief priests and the crowds. He said, "I find no basis for a charge against this man" (23:4). That was the first time Pilate said Jesus was not guilty.
But they kept insisting. They said Jesus stirred up the people all over Judea with his teaching. He had started in Galilee and come all the way to Jerusalem.
1Then the whole council rose and led Jesus away to Pilate. 2And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.” 3So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” 5But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people all over Judea with His teaching. He began in Galilee and has come all the way here.”
Scene 4: Sent to HerodVerses 6 to 12
Pilate heard the word Galilee. He asked if Jesus was from there. Jesus was. Galilee was ruled by Herod Antipas. So Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at that time.
Earlier in Luke, Herod had said he beheaded John the Baptist. Herod had been trying to see Jesus ever since (9:9).
Now Herod was very glad to see Jesus. He had wanted to see Jesus for a long time, because he had heard about him. He hoped to see Jesus do a miracle.
Herod asked Jesus question after question. Jesus gave no answer.
The chief priests and scribes stood there. They accused Jesus loudly and fiercely.
Then Herod and his soldiers made fun of Jesus. They put a fine robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. One likely reason for the robe: they were laughing at the idea that he was a king.
That day, Herod and Pilate became friends. Before this, they had been enemies. The Bible doesn't say why they became friends.
6When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7And learning that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself was in Jerusalem at that time. 8When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see Him perform a miracle. 9Herod questioned Jesus at great length, but He gave no answer. 10Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes stood there, vehemently accusing Him. 11And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate. 12That day Herod and Pilate became friends; before this time they had been enemies.
Scene 5: "Not Guilty"Verses 13 to 16
Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people.
Pilate said they had brought Jesus to him as a man who stirred up rebellion. He had questioned Jesus in front of them. He had found him "not guilty of your charges against Him" (23:14). That was the second time Pilate said Jesus was not guilty.
"Herod didn't find him guilty either," Pilate said. "He sent him back to us." Pilate said Jesus had done nothing that deserved death.
So Pilate said he would punish Jesus and then let him go.
13Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him. 15Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us. As you can see, He has done nothing deserving of death. 16Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.”
Between scenesVerse 17
This part isn't retold as its own scene.
17
Scene 6: The Crowd ShoutsVerses 18 to 22
They all shouted together, the leaders and the people. They wanted Jesus taken away. They wanted Barabbas set free instead.
Barabbas was in prison for a rebellion in the city and for murder. A rebellion is a violent fight against the rulers.
Earlier that morning, the leaders had accused Jesus of turning people against the government. Jesus had not done that. Barabbas had.
Pilate wanted to release Jesus. He spoke to them again.
But they kept shouting, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" (23:21).
A third time, Pilate spoke to them. "What evil has this man done?" (23:22). He said he had found nothing in Jesus that deserved death. He would punish him and let him go.
18But they all cried out in unison: “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19(Barabbas had been imprisoned for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) 20Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, 21but they kept shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” 22A third time he said to them, “What evil has this man done? I have found in Him no offense worthy of death. So after I punish Him, I will release Him.”
Scene 7: Barabbas Goes FreeVerses 23 to 25
But they kept demanding, with loud voices, that Jesus be crucified. "And their clamor prevailed" (23:23). A clamor is loud shouting. Prevailed means it won.
Pilate gave his decision. He did what they asked.
He let Barabbas go free.
And he "handed Jesus over to their will" (23:25).
Three times Pilate said Jesus had done nothing wrong. He had the power to set Jesus free. He did not use it.
The guilty man walked out of prison. The innocent man was led away to die.
None of this took Jesus by surprise. He had told the twelve disciples it was coming (18:31). He said he would be handed over, mocked, and killed. And he said, "on the third day He will rise again" (18:33).
23But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices for Jesus to be crucified. And their clamor prevailed. 24So Pilate sentenced that their demand be met. 25As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and handed Jesus over to their will.
Between scenesVerses 26 to 56
This part isn't retold as its own scene.
26As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. 27A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning and wailing for Him. 28But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’ 30At that time ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ 31For if men do these things while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 32Two others, who were criminals, were also led away to be executed with Jesus. 33When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left. 34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots. 35The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” 36The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine. 37“If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save Yourself!” 38Above Him was posted an inscription: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!” 40But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment? 41We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” 43And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” 44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. 45The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. 46Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last. 47When the centurion saw what had happened, he gave glory to God, saying, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48And when all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts. 49But all those who knew Jesus, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things. 50Now there was a Council member named Joseph, a good and righteous man, 51who had not consented to their decision or action. He was from the Judean town of Arimathea, and was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid. 54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body was placed. 56Then they returned to prepare spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.
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